Seroprevalence of Anti-HCV in an Urban Child Population: A Preliminary Study from Kuala Lumpur

WS Lee, KP Ng
Correspondence: Dr W S Lee, leews@medicine.med.um.edu.my

ABSTRACT
A pilot study to determine the seroprevalence of anti-HCV among children from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was conducted using microparticle enzyme immunoassay. Serum samples were obtained randomly from children, aged between one to 16 years of age, admitted to the paediatric unit of University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur for various medical reasons. Of the 179 samples assayed, only one was positive, giving the prevalence rate of 0.6%. It is reasonable to conclude that the seroprevalence of anti-HCV among children from Kuala Lumpur is low, less than 1%.

Keywords: seroprevalence, anti-HCV, child population
Singapore Med J 2001; 42(3): 100-101